Accused teen armed robber freed again by Supreme Court judge
A TEEN accused of terrifying armed robberies in which victims were lured on Gumtree shook a judge’s hand, grinned, and shouted in glee after being freed on bail for a second time.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A TEEN accused of terrifying armed robberies in which victims were lured on Gumtree shook a judge’s hand, grinned, and shouted in glee after being freed on bail for a second time.
A Supreme Court judge released the boy, 16, despite hearing that he had committed further robberies while on bail.
The boy had gone to Victoria’s highest court to challenge Children’s Court magistrate Michelle Hodgson’s decision in April to refuse him bail.
MORE CRIME NEWS: CRACKDOWN ON VICTORIA’S MOST EVIL CRIMINALS
SHERIFF CAUGHT SELLING WOMAN’S HOME AT HALF-PRICE
FEDERAL BUDGET TO BACK ELDERLY HOME CARE
She said that he was a danger to the public, and she feared he would commit further crimes if released.
Back on March 15, the teen was granted police bail over charges relating to a robbery in Keilor Downs in which he is accused of swinging an axe at the victim, whom he is alleged to have met to buy an iPhone advertised on Gumtree.
Police allege he later went on a crime spree. He faces 17 charges including armed robbery, using a weapon, obtaining property by deception, making threats to kill, and theft, over seven incidents.
The teen’s Supreme Court bail hearing was conducted in line with a new policy, revealed by the Herald Sun last year, to treat children before the court with kid gloves.
Its intent is that children “not (be) exposed to avoidable intimidation, humiliation and distress”.
Justice Champion sat at the bar table, opposite the teen, saying he wanted to make the hearing “as informal as possible” and explaining that the court’s “ultimate objective” was to rehabilitate children.
The teen was even allowed to give his mother a hug before the hearing began.
Police, who strongly opposed bail, said the teen had stolen a person’s phone and wallet at knifepoint in Treasury Gardens on March 31.
On April 12, another four people are said to have fallen victim, one of whom was threatened with a knife after going to Treasury Gardens to exchange an iPhone advertised on Gumtree.
In granting bail, Justice Champion — Victoria’s former director of public prosecutions — said he had been “impressed” by the boy’s mother, who promised she would call police if he stepped out of line.
He set a 9pm-6am curfew, and forbade any contact with the co-accused, aged in their mid- to late-20s, and any visits to the CBD without his mother.
The boy said he understood the conditions and, reaching across the table, shook the judge’s hand.
As Justice Champion left the court, the teen looked at his mum with a grin from ear to ear and, with his arms in the air, said: “Yes!”
He must return to court for a progress report in two weeks.
MORE HERALD SUN NEWS:
EXPOSED: PRISON LIFE FOR OUR MOST NOTORIOUS WOMEN
RENTAL PROPERTY TRASHED IN WILD FOOTSCRAY PARTY
SOLE SURVIVOR OF NAVARRE CRASH OUT OF HOSPITAL
‘VIOLENT JAILS’ USED AS REASON TO BAIL YOUNG OFFENDERS
THE ESKY MURDER CARL GOT AWAY WITH